"Chocolate cake on my first day back?" Pony smiled running his hand over his hair. The aroma had seeped into his room waking him up.
"Only the best for my baby brother." Soda replied taking the cake out of the oven. "Look, not even burnt!"He exclaimed.
"When did you become the cook around here?" Pony asked pulling out a chair.
"Ever since I realized I would starve without Darry around." Soda exaggerated as Darry walked into the room.
"Soda, your 21. You can make your own damn lunch." Darry grumbled walking in. None of the Curtis brothers were especially morning persons, but especially Darry. Ever since the Curtis parents died he developed a coffee habit.
"You alright Dar?" Pony asked glancing between his two brothers.
"Yeah, just need my morning coffee is all." Darry sat down in the chair next to Pony.
"Whats on the agenda today guys?" Darry asked as Soda handed him a cup of coffee.
"Steve and I are opening shop at ten then we were gonna swing by the movies or something later. Wanna join Pone?" Soda asked.
"Sure, just let me know what time. I ain't got no plans today. Think I should get a job for the summer Dar?" Pony pondered. He had a steady job back in Texas pumping gas at the station and writing articles for the school paper. He would be home four months, an awful long time to be sitting around.
Darry opened the paper. "Might as well save up some money for the return trip and textbooks."
Pony nodded opening the paper on the table. I guess I'll look at it today. "What about you Dar? What are you doing?"
"Oh, he is going to work then straight to Chessys. Then he is gonna sneak back in here around eleven or so." Soda winked at Dar. "You know your not fooling anyone." He added.
"Wasn't trying too." Darry shot back. "I'm gonna ask her about meeting you tomorrow." Darry said nodding at Pone.
"Will the kiddies be here?" Soda asked glee in his eye.
"Yeah they will be here." Darry smiled. Darry could act tough all he wanted, but as soon as those kids entered his life he softened a little. The girls had a way of making him do as they please.
"Sounds nice." Pony smiled taking a cigarette out of his pocket, he was about to light in when Darry stopped him.
"You know the rule Pone. Outside." Darry gestured to the door.
"How can you smoke with a track scholarship is beyond me though." He added.
Pony winced. "Yeah, I know I should really quit. Maybe tomorrow."
"Thats what all cancer-stick users say." Soda said half serious. "You know I never smoked as much as you Pone, but I quit for good last year. The girls don't like it." Soda added and winked. Smoking had never played huge role in Soda's life, well nothing compared to Pony's. The real reason he quit was he was saving money. He couldn't live with Darry forever. He knew it was only a matter of time before Chessy and the kids moved in here.
Pony shrugged. "Yeah I know, I know." He walked outside leaving Dar and Soda alone.
"Its weird having him back. But, a good weird." Soda smiled. "Just doesn't feel like home without all us here—well you know whats left." Soda finished frowning. Although it had been five years, the gang still thought of us often. They say time heals all things, but some stuff never really heal, its just covered by a band-aid is all. You can't see the wound, but it's still there nagging at you every once in a while. And sometimes, the band aid falls off exposing it to the world.
"Yeah I know what you mean" Darry said finishing his coffee. "That cake ready yet?"
"Still kinda hot, but that never stopped us before." Soda laughed cutting the cake and handing Darry a slice.
Pony finished his cigarette and said goodbye to his brothers leaving him to an empty house. It was weird He was never alone anymore. His roommate in college seldom went out, and he usually spent his free time studying in the local cafes or library.
He picked up the newspaper and searched through the wanted ads.
Undertaker, construction worker, teacher, piano teacher. . .. Pony read aloud and trailed off.
Piano teacher? Pony glanced at their mom's old piano in the corner. They had one back at college in one of the music buildings. He snuck in to play every now and then, but hadn't improved much since leaving home. Even when Darry was around he never played in front of the gang. He felt foolish for wanting to maintain his greaser image. I mean he didn't even grease his hair anymore, and he was about the only greaser attending a university. But, in the back of his mind he was still the same 14 year old boy who had run away with his best friend and participated in rumbles
Pony walked over to the piano and started playing a few chords. Still got it, he thought to himself smugly. He quickly dusted off the piano bench and sat down. In a matter of minutes he was playing one of the few songs mom had taught him. Maybe I could be a teacher, he thought to himself.
He knew the basics, he could even play the advanced Beethoven, but it had been so long since he was taught. Just thinking about it brought back memories of Mrs. Curtis and a young Pony spending rainy afternoons at the piano. He didn't realize it, but a tear started to spread down from his eye. He didn't have many memories of his parents, and even those seemed to be fading more with each year. But, he would never forget those rainy afternoons.
Pony returned to the paper to read more about the ad. It ended up being for an eight year old girl on the other side of town, well the Soc side that is. Without much thinking he dialed the number on the paper.
"Hello, I'm calling about the ad in the paper."
—
"Did you know that guy went here for seven years?" Two-Bit heard one of the freshman girls say as he was walking down the halls. He usually waited until after school to do his cleaning, but he wanted to spend time with Pone tonight.
Sometimes it embarrassed Two-Bit he was still at high school, even if it was for working. He knew he wasn't the brightest. He also doubted there was any chance for a real future. He would get through the day by reminding himself it was temporary.
Temporary for what? Two-Bit thought to himself. Truth be told, he didn't know what he wanted to do Steve and Soda had their business they liked enough. They offered him a job, but he knew it was out of pity. He didn't know shit about cars. Darry had his construction, maybe it wasn't his dream, but he was good at it.
Most of the time Two-Bit put on a happy face. These were just his problems after all. He had to help support his mom anyways. His little sister still lived at home too. She was bartending saving up money for college. Two-Bit just hoped she wouldn't get knocked up before she got a chance to go.
"Hey there Mathews." Another girl came up to him. He had seen her around, he knew she must have been a senior. He didn't however know how she knew him.
"And whats a pretty gal like you doing here?" He smiled turning on the charm.
"Oh you know, getting educated and stuff." She smiled holding out her hand. "Caroline, thought I'd properly introduce myself"
"Nice to meet you Miss Caroline. How do you know me?" Two-Bit asked holding out his hand.
She smiled and shook it. "You were at one of Bob's parties the other day. Don't pretend you don't remember me." She playfully hit him
Two-Bit forced a chuckle. If he was at Bob's he had probably been too drunk to remember. "Remind me." He winked at her.
She rolled her eyes. "You know…you bought me a drink. Then we went upstairs." She emphasized the word, 'upstairs'.
Two-Bit grinned some of the night starting to come back to him. "What was that, a month ago?"
"About." She said all sudden real serious. "Um…." She looked down at her feet. "I don't know how to tell you this."
"What? Couldn't get enough of me?" Two-Bit wiggled his eyebrows. "Back for more?"
"I'm pregnant." She blurted out. Her eyes were in a frantic darting anywhere, but his eyes. A moment later the school bell rang. "Better go." She said flustered and running away.
"Whaaaa." Two-Bit stood their stunned. Did she just say pregnant? Impossible! He thought, well not impossible. Okay completely likely. Tw-Bit put his head in his hands. What just happened?
"Honey, I'm home." Darry called out with a grin only to be met by two yelling girls in the front.
"Darry! Darry! " The younger one yelled lifting up her arms. Darry picked her up and tossed her in the air "What am I gunna do with this lump of potatoes?" He asked.
"I'm not a potato." She screamed out. She was three, but almost reaching four. Emma had short blonde curly hair like her mother. Lacy, who was five, resembled her distant dad more with straight red/brown hair, almost like Pony's.
"Darral." Chessy smiled coming into the kitchen. "They have been waiting for you all day. Lacy has something to tell you." She smiled looking down at her oldest and giving Darral a kiss on the cheek.
Lacy beamed. "I had show and tell today!" She said proudly.
"Really?" Darry asked crouching down to meet her gaze. "And what did you show?"
"Mr. Biggs." She replied smiling. Mr. Biggs was the latest addition to the family, him being a fat white and brown spotted rabbit.
"Mr. Biggs did not like the car ride." Chessy added. "Are you staying for dinner tonight?"
"If you don't mind." Darry smiled sitting down and pulling Emma on his lap. "By the way, my brother came home."
"Really?! The youngest one? You must be so happy." Chessy grinned as she prepared supper.
"Of course. I want you and the kids to meet him. Why don't we have dinner at my place tomorrow?" He half asked Chessy, half asking the kids.
"I wanna go to Darrys!" Lacy shouted. "He always has cake!"
"Not always." Darry added. Lacy frowned, "No cake?"
Darry ruffled her hair. "Well, of course Soda made some today for you."
"Yes!" She screamed throwing her hands up in the air.
"What do we say Lacy and Emma?" Chessy asked stirring at the oven.
"Thank you!" The girls cried in unison.
After dinner the girls started yawning. Chessy winked at Darry. "Girls, time for bed!"
The remark was met with groans form the two girls. "Maybe Darry can read you a story." Chessy added looking at Darry.
"My pleasure." Darry agreed taking them into their room. They lived in a small house. Without support from the father, it was hard for Chessy. After the divorce he had left town. They got a check once in a while from him, but they barley got by with Chessy working full time in the day.
After finishing the story, Lacy had already fallen asleep. Emma, however was still smiling and wide-eyed. "Its time for you to go to bed now." Darry instructed tucking her in.
"I don't want too!" She frowned tugging on Darry's arms. "What if the monsters get me?"
Darry bit his lip. "You know monsters can't get you. They can't hurt you Emma. I used to be afraid of monsters, but, do you know what my dad told me?" Darry asked looking at Emma.
"What? What?" Emma whispered in fear of waking up her older sister. Darry reached into his pocket to see what he could find. He found his old watch and pulled it out. There was nothing wrong with it, but after years of wear and tare, he finally invested in a new one this morning.
"You see this watch?" Darry asked Emma. She nodded intently.
"As long as you wear this watch." Monsters can't get you. Its a magic watch." He whispered putting a finger to his mouth.
"Really?" Her eyes lit up taking the watch. "Yup, but its a secret." He added. "If you wear this watch around your wrist, the monsters will think your a grown up, and won't get you." He lied wrapping the watch around her tiny wrist.
"Wow! Thank you!" She whispered. She suddenly jumped up and hugged Darry.
"Goodnight." Darry smiled putting her down."
"I love you." The girl smiled and started to drift asleep. Darry smiled, none of the girls had ever said that to him before. After their dad left they had been sad a while, always asking where he was and when he was coming back. "I love you too". Darry whispered to himself as Emma was already fast asleep. He did love the girls, and Chessy. After Pony had left for college he became at a lost. He had went right from brother to father to Soda and Pony. Pony didn't need a father anymore as much as a brother. But, he knew these girl's sure did.
—